Introduction: Cerebral palsy is a chronic, non-progressive and permanent cerebral impairment. It is one of the leading causes of physical disability among children. Cerebral palsy is characterized by disturbances in the development of movement and posture, often accompanied by mental retardation. The shape and degree of cerebral palsy have a major influence on the quality of life of a child and the child's family. Caring for a child with cerebral palsy causes many problems in the mental, social and financial area of the family. A nurse plays an important role in informing, advising and supporting the child and the family. Purpose: The purpose of the thesis is to theoretically present the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy and their families and the role of a nurse in dealing with families of children with cerebral palsy. Methods: Descriptive method was used in writing the thesis. A review of selected Slovenian and foreign literature was made, using following databases: Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, ScienceDirect. Only original research articles were used. Discussion and conclusion: Diagnosis of cerebral palsy does not have a strong influence on the quality of life of children with cerebral palsy. Their quality of life is similar to that of their healthy peers, it is even better in the school area. Children with cerebral palsy who attend regular schools indicate better quality of life than those in special schools. Being a parent of a disabled child is stressful and physically exhausting. Families with children with cerebral palsy are often in financial distress due to unemployment, which can lead to poverty and depression. The most burdened family member is the mother; she is affected physically, socially and mentally. Unemployed mothers of children with cerebral palsy have a poorer quality of life than employed mothers. Most families with a child with cerebral palsy want help and support from a nurse. They want information and counselling regarding their child's condition. A nurse can help families identify the resources they need and finding professionals. With active work, a nurse can enable fast, organized, professional and quality treatment of the child and the family.
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